It may not seem like a big deal at first blush, but if I don't get my mini-pineapple Fanta, and I mean NOW, there will be hell to pay..

Why is Delta always in the middle of a PR sh!t-storm?! (pun intended)

What kind of shitty customer service is that!?!

Have we all lost our sense of humanity? WTF, seriously?

Man, I don't even know what to say about that. I know flight attendants put up with some bs but thats just mean. He should have just dropped trow right there...probably less jail time for shitting in the aisle.

Why would the TSA care what bathroom you use?

what, people are still flying, i thought we all got over that fad

You'll love the way we fly, unless you have to poop.

They just need to add security cameras to the cabins to record what really happens in an airplane. This is one of those cases where a little invasion of privacy would be good for everyone.

Too bad the airlines would think of it as a liability instead of security issue.

Since first class and coach are strictly airline-created marketing differences, exactly what business does TSA have in regulating passenger bathroom usage?

What Transportation Safety issue is involved here?

I would have crapped on myself. Then went and sit down in a very uncomfortable chair which would cause me to move around unfortunantly smearing poop all over the seats causing a foul smell throughout the plain, which in turn would cause ALL the passengers to complain, which in turn would cause Delta to hand out vouchers for their stupidity, AND THEN... i would sue them for not allowing me to use the restroom.

I'm sure they'll change policies after that.

Can we all agree that it's time to do away with in-flight food service, especially on short flights? I can buy a soda in the airport. I don't need the cart blocking the aisle for half the trip.

"Joao Correa is charged with a felony because he had diarrhea on an airplane."

NO - He is being charged with a felony because he laid his hands on a flight attendant.

Yes, he did not mean to - and Yes, he should have never been put into that situation, but to say he is in trouble because he had to go to the bathroom is misleading. He is in trouble for laying his hands on a flight attendant.

@No_Moleste: Yeah, but the fecal spray akin to the powerful mist setting on a garden hose probably would've hit several people, subjecting him to civil and criminal liability.

I'm tired of getting mother@#$^ing diarhea on a mother%&^#ing plane.

Really though, if that was me i would have calmly but firmly pulled/pushed the cart away and walked to the bathroom.. doing my best not to touch/harm anyone.

...That or ask 2 flight attendants to hold a drink cup so i can relieve myself.

@tedyc03: Rules is Rulez.. much like "zero tolerance" laws. Zero thought. Zero responsibility.

The AP article has to be incorrect on this. The TSA has no jurisdiction about what happens in-flight. FAA does, but not TSA.

@prag: I miss free peanuts. Honey-roasted and glistening with salt, large bags of them free on every flight because "we love you".

What the hell is wrong with these stewardesses? Do they really think that handing out drinks is so important that it justifies this kind of thing, or that keeping people out of the business class bathroom is so important that it justifies attempting to physically block someone in distress?

Airlines in the US suck. The unions contribute hugely to the suckyness by making it impossible for the airlines to provide reasonable service and remain profitable. Try flying on a foreign non-union carrier and see the diff - cheaper tickets, nicer planes, better service.

Fairly certain that isn't an FAA rule, and agree that the TSA probably has no authority in this case. I believe it's an airline rule.

I do know that the FAA does prohibit gathering next to the cockpit door, but that means just that a line can't form at a forward lavatory, not that any particular person may not use it.

Alaska says the same thing, but does not attribute it to a government agency. Furthermore, they allow persons blocked by carts to use the first/business class bathrooms.

@ophmarketing: To protect against those terrorists.... you know the ones who have NEVER used a bathroom to plan their attacks and just WENT FOR IT -_-.

@BeerManMike: Two flight attendants one cup I think that one has been done already.

@coan_net: He is in trouble for laying his hands on a flight attendant.

Have you seen what most US based flight attendants look like these days? I have difficulty believing he touched one on purpose.

@BigFoot_Pete: Well, we knew that their rep was going down the toilet. They just added some Ty-D-Bowl to the mix.

If i remember correctly, this rule exists "to prevent crowding in the forward cabin" but it is probably just to keep you peons out of first and business classes.

I wonder if he even indicated to the stewardess that he was about to have the green apple splatters? Sometimes you have to bypass modesty to get what you need.

@prag: I'd rather not pay $4 for a soda. And on every flight I've been on, the attendants are always efficient at moving the carts quickly, so I've never had a big problem.

@ophmarketing: TSA's mission is to promote class separation.

@coan_net: Yeah, I feel like there is stuff missing from this article. Was it the same flight attendant that told him not to use the bathroom? did he let the cart attendant know he was in dire straights? It doesn't seem like he made much of an effort to let them know and probably came off as pretty sketchy trying to run to the bathroom.

@jscott73: Yeah! And when you must fly, you should buy your travel from a local mom-and-pop airline, not one of these big chains.

I don't see anything saying that he informed any of the crew that he had a bathroom emergency (and that he was trying to save them a bigger mess). He has a good case for bending the rules if he had told them but he didn't state his case. The interference charge is overreaction but it is not unreasonable that a passenger actually explain to the attendant why she needed to bend the rules.

@prag:

I agree, on a short flight, I just want to close my eyes and try to nap. I don't need to be bothered with a two sip cup of warm liquid and stale snacks.

@Jim Topoleski: IIRC, weren't the "bombs" in the 9/11 planes (yes, there were planes) "assembled" int he bathrooms to terrorize the passengers?

@1234tu:

Southwest is the most heavily unionized airline out there, and they seem to do OK.

Okay...after reading the article, I have to conclude that (from the information in the article) it does not seem that Correa communicated to the flight attendant that he needed to use the bathroom. He needed to use the bathroom, but found that a drink cart was in his way. He asked if he could use the business class bathroom, but there is no mention that he actually said, "your cart is blocking my way, can I use X bathroom." I know, it seems like it would be implied, but you can't just assume things like logic.

Now, his problem is that he needs a bathroom, can't get to one, and he decides to run toward the business class bathroom anyway. I don't take issue with his intention to get to it anyway because it was an emergency, but running or being hurried on an airplane - very bad behavior. That sends red flags everywhere, and it tends to freak people out a little.

I think my question is: Did he properly communicate to the flight attendant that he a) needed to use a bathroom and b) could not access one because the drink cart was in the way?

From the article, it seems that Correa may not have specified that he had an emergency, but did stand around to wait for the drink cart to be moved, which it was not. Since it was not moved, I'm wondering whether he actually told the flight attendant just why he needed to go to that particular bathroom right away. If the a ttendant didn't know this information there would be no reason for her to move the drink cart right away.

@prag: Honduras to Atlanta is short?

This story is very similar to a Yankees fan being thrown out for trying to use the restroom during the 7th inning stretch.

[www.nydailynews.com]

@Kaellorian: So take a dump on the drink cart. As long as he doesn't tape it and put it on Youtube, he's golden, right? Right?

@1234tu: Can people stop calling flight attendants stewardesses? Not all of them are female, though it still doesn't mean you can call the female ones stewardesses.

@prag: Edmonton -> Saskatoon:
Take off, unbuckle, serve drinks and gross snacks, collect garbage, buckle up, land.

I think I can go 45 minutes without a bag of bits and bites thanks.

@PriceIsWrong: They can't do that because the unions would never allow it. Privacy and "respect" for employees and all.

Somehow, I don't think he was communicating the emergency of the matter. Also, I've seen people get up to go to the bathroom while the drink carts were out. Why was this such a problem?

@ophmarketing: IIRC its an FAA rule that is strictly enforced for international flights regarding going to different sections of the cabin.

However that being said, pushing a cart from one end of the plane to another doesn't take a lot of time, and while uncomfortable they could have him step into an aisle, while they pull it just past him, then keep on going.

If he was running down the aisle towards the front of the plane, that could be seen as a threat to the flight deck. Therefore the block was done in an interest to stop a threat. The flight attendant up front may not have known the reason for his running.

@pecan 3.14159265: He communicated his need to use the restroom by asking if he could use the restroom.

Don

With a name like Joao Correa and flying between Honduras and Atlanta I'm thinking that maybe he was unable to communicate effectively - he may not speak English or "good enough" English for that situation. Even if his English is perfect, this is so sad. Nobody should be put in the situation of nearly shitting themselves because of idiot rules, and then being arrested because of it.

@BigFoot_Pete:

I have a policy of never flying Delta Airlines. It is an old policy and a good one. About 10 years ago I broke my pelvis in a motorcycle racing accident. 1 week after leaving the hospital I had to be in Vegas for a tech convention and flew Delta. I was on crutches and could not move my right leg at all still. When they did the first call to board for first class etc I got up to get in my coach class seat. I'm accustomed to hearing the ole "first class, passengers with children and anyone with special needs" call and just assumed it was an omission when I did not hear it so got up anyway to board. The ticketing agent told me that I was not in first class and to please have a seat until my section is called. I told her I had a broken pelvis and would have a very hard time navigating the isle with crutches and a non working leg. She told me that it did not matter and to please sit down. I, along with the people behind me, where outraged so I just wrote her name down assuming she was just being an idiot and waited my turn. Needless to say it was hard to get to my seat but many people helped me out. On the connecting stop a completely different Delta flight crew did the exact same thing to me. It turns out that was official Delta policy at the time. First Class Only. No matter what. I don't fly Delta. No matter what.

@donopolis: Yes, he asked if he could use the business class bathroom. However, I'm disputing the notion that he actually explained it was an emergency. If it's not an emergency, most people can wait a few minutes until the drink cart passes. If he didn't tell the attendant that he had an emergency, she wouldn't have had any inkling to move the cart right then and there.

Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott released a statement saying flight crews "do everything within the limits of the law to ensure the safety and security of our passengers."

should read as "do everything within the limits of the law to blame the customer"

@1234tu: Lol, once again the unions are at fault. I swear, the right has got people so brainwashed that unions are considered an evil boogeyman plotting the downfall of everything you love.

@YoSoyHe-Man!!_GitEmSteveDave: I think so. But what does that have to do with which section's bathroom they use? The terrorists still get access to their own section's bathrooms.

No matter what the circumstance, you have to feel for the guy - the only place I can think of worse for having the runs than a plane (coach or business - the only difference I've ever found is the bud vase and cologne on some lines) would have to be jail. I hope it was a one-off and not a bug...